Sunday, December 27, 2009
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Post Christmas- The Fun Times Keep Rolling
Speaking of larger than me items, check out this super cool easel that I received. I couldn't imagine a gift more in tune with my inner artistic self. Just look at the way I command that red marker over the paper. I outstretch naturally and end up with a masterpiece before my very eyes. True talent!
Beauty in motion!
Oh, boy this is when the morning really got fun. Daddy got all technical and scientific on Mommy over a gingerbread house when all she wanted to do was, direct quote, 'wing it'. What's Switzerland supposed to do in a situation like this?
Well, I couldn't stay impartial for long. Daddy was so gosh darned serious over frosting that I had to make silly faces to distract him!
It worked, he loosened up and prepared to blame Mommy for all housing shortcomings that were no doubt coming our way.
Finally the house was contructed and needed a helping hand from artsy-fartsy Samantha. Look, look- Samantha to the rescue. Looks better already!
Did I really just get photo busted eating the frosting glue? This is worse than the redlight cameras in intersections- hope there's no fine for making a house structurally unsafe.....
No time for posing, Daddy. I've got a work in progress!
This here glue is super sweet and tasty!
I think you may have seen the super long seven minute video of the leaning tower of gingerbread, so we'll skip ahead to the aftermath. Cleaning up the frosting glue. I volunteer! Gotta learn me some values!
Yeppers. Still learning those values! Can you see the red marker spots from the earlier art projects. Thank goodness for washable ink.
Turns out Daddy snuck in some art time of his own...
Friday, December 25, 2009
Merry Christmas!
Great-Grandma Pat's stuffed dog was my first present and it's been my constant companion ever since!
This gift giving and receiving concept is the greatest thing ever!
This doggie is bigger than I am!
And makes the greatest chair for opening the rest of the gifts. Onward!
And here is where the morning came to a screaching halt. After opening the puppy dog, markers and crayons we took an extended break of a few hours so I could squeeze art into the day. Thank goodness it was a family affair or I would have offended a great number of extremely thoughtful people.
Okay, back from hiatus. Onto personalized backpack time!
And Samantha sized musical instruments!
The holiday wasn't all about me, so I wanted to include a picture of Daddy with the present I gave him- a garden gnome! You see, Daddy's new hobby is gardening so he's been planning our attack on the back corner of our yard. Mommy later surprised us with a joint gift- Samantha's first gardening set complete with a Samantha sized wheelbarrow and gardening tools. I'm sensing lots of great bonding moments ahead this spring.
Here I am with the Little People airplane. Awesome!
And, we took another break so I could check out the house. I like to take inventory of every drawer and cabinet in the house. I spice things up by moving items from one place to another. Keeps things interesting, if you want to know my take on it. And to think Daddy is trying to keep the house clean for his parent's visit in January. Ha!
Here is how our family Christmas craft project turned out. Super cute, I think!
Back to the crime scene investigation.....
And I found it. The pencil- super sharp and not meant for me. Check!
And promptly threw a fit when Mommy took my prize possession away.
And continued my fit of dispair when my initial efforts yielded little empathy.
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Just As Christmas Eve Should Be
He came back to find us hanging out with Mommy's dear friend and former roommate, Lucinda. She was the coolest person ever. She stayed away from me and let me get comfortable with her before she even talked or looked at me. Her reward at the end of the day? A certified Samantha hug! I even let her pick me up so we could adore Roger together. More on that milestone later....
Lucinda just loved me, but then again who doesn't? We played lots and lots of chicken dance Elmo. I danced the chicken dance, a lot. Enough said!
Lucinda laughed when I refused to give Mommy kisses. I refuse kisses so much that it's become a family joke. I'm not kidding!
When it was time for sleep sleep, Mommy and Lucinda ditched me for a big girl's lunch out. When they came back I was well rested and we all went down in the basement only to find the surprise of my life. Apparently, we are continuing the tradition of one family present on Christmas Eve. And this one is a doozy. A bouncy house of my very own. This is seriously amazing! Mommy, Daddy, Lucinda and I had an absolute blast. I sure wish Lucinda didn't live so far away. Even when I go to California to visit with Daddy's family it's still super far from the elusive 'Bay Area'. Though I did hear talk about a special trip to visit the Bay Area for more Lucinda time. Yay!
Enough jabbering, welcome to my very own bouncy house!
Only those wanting to have lots and lots of fun can enter!
I plum wore myself out and Mommy thought I was going to be a mess visiting with Santa later tonight, but I powered through like a champ. After dinner it was Christmas Eve, part 2!
Over to Bridget's house for Christmas Eve with Santa. We all knew how it was going to go and I exceeded expectations all around. Did I scream when placed in Santa's lap? Absolutely. Did I let a girl I don't know pick me up? Absolutely. Did I panic when another kiddo climbed in Mommy's lap? Nope. I rock all around!
Here I am getting warmed up to the mass of super nice people swarming around the tasty food. I threw on a pathetic face and pigs in a blanket magically appeared before me. Yay for working the crowd!
No time picture posing, Mommy. Someone might snag my tasty treats- these things are super addictive!
Huge milestone alert- a super nice girl I've never met just reached down and scooped me off the floor and right into her lap. I was so surprised I didn't even know how to react, and then I realized I liked being social. What a weird, yet cool feeling!
And we break from the festivities to pose for a Daddy and me moment. I'm still thinking about how to score more pigs in a blanket....
Santa comes to Bridget's house every Christmas Eve. Mommy and Daddy have been part of the festivities since before I was born. (Really, there was life before me?) and are excited to have me join in the tradition. Of course, I'm not as comfortable with men in red suits as the other kids. I just might need another year or two before really understanding that this is the man with the toy connections. So, sit back and watch a short video on everyone else paying close attention to Santa while I do everything but.
And the big moment was upon us before I realized what was happening. Yeppers, my time with Santa.
And then got worse....
I calmed down the second I was back in Mommy's arms. Daddy further distracted me by handing me a gift from Bridget and family.
And I promptly fell in love with the dolly, stroller, noise making combination. Thanks!
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Lopsided Love
When we got back home I went right to the tree and fixed the placement of the ornaments. I did a great job of fixing the white ornament, which was hanging onto its branch ever so wrong.
Yep, this is the one.
As we were taking care of the tree, we thought we heard a noise outside. Since Roger was in the sunroom, Daddy went out to investigate. Good thing he did because there were four boxes being delivered! Thank goodness Mommy is a child and can't wait to open presents because one of them was for me and Mommy let me break into it early.
It was a foam floor puzzle of the alphabet and numbers. This is so cool. I found the most important letter right away!
And then helped Daddy push the puzzle pieces together. I'm such a great helper!
And then I posed for a moment to take a serious shot. Even all serious I'm still a cutie!
And I leave you with a video that sums up my entire relationship with Mufasa.
Monday, December 21, 2009
Potty Time
Oh, went to Dr. M today and got the all clear for ears and pneumonia. I'm one healthy chick-a-dee!
Then we went to the quack who said I had to be taken out of daycare or I'd keep getting ear infections. You can imagine how happy we were to wait over an hour and pay our co-pay to hear this nonsense. You can also imagine how quickly Mommy called Dr. M to complain about this totally unrealistic assessment of avoiding AOM- medical speak for ear infections. I don't know who fears being stuck home all day, me or Mommy. She'd drive me nuts!
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Samantha Baker- Fifteen Candles Shy Of A Movie
And taste testing the goods.
All in all it was a super great weekend filled with family time and fun. I can't wait until this weekend to spend even more time with Mommy and Daddy and unwrap all the cool looking boxes under the Christmas tree!
Mother Nature Vs Riding Lawn Mowers
And what post would be complete without our favorite outdoor cat, Roger? Seriously, he is the most friendly cat I've ever met. I don't care what the neighbor says about Roger's ability to hunt down small animals.
Since the snow looked so beautiful, I decided to throw on the snow gear, pause for a photo....
Or two, and then head right outside to see what all the fuss is about. Clearly I still don't understand why people like this snow. It's cold and wet.
